a: poured a nice black color with only minimal light getting through, medium viscosity and one finger head that disappeared quickly

s: not a lot going on, some bourbon and chocolate coming through but I really have to swirl it to get anything to come up

t: just a little bourbon flavor with some chocolate and molasses like notes as well, everything well balanced, nothing overpowering but nothing bold either, everything just mellow

m: medium, slight creamy feeling with a very small hint of the alcohol at the finish, for 9% it is hidden well

o: very drinkable for an American Imperial Stout, nothing about it though that makes me want to seek out another, received as an extra in trade and enjoyed it very much but too many others in that style that I enjoy better, I would drink another one though if landed in front of me! (831 characters)

Craaazy...after the usual six twists (try it!) the cork in this bottle pushed the wire cage off before I could do it myself. And it produced the loudest pop I've ever heard this side of a gunshot. Holy mackerel. This stuff is just dying to get out of the bottle.

Insidious is an utterly gorgeous beer, being abyss-like in its blackness. The toasted tan head is insanely creamy and the bubbles are so tight and small, this very firm head looks like something you'd see in a Belgian stout. Lace sticks to the side of the glass like iron filings on a magnet. The head never totally dies.

Aroma has two major characteristics: dusty cocoa powder and alcohol. Despite the alcohol presence, it's quite subdued for a 9% stout, although what's here is completely enjoyable. Just not a ton of depth or energy to this aroma.

Flavor is cocoa, mineral, coffee, alcohol, wood, and cream (in that order)...plus light dark fruit way in the background. The cocoa stays on the palate longest into the finish, and takes on a more burnt character then too. Alcohol isn't overbearing.

Feel is a nice balance of fizzy, airy, soft and slick. A bit dryer than expected. With the head, the big cocoa, the earth/mineral and the fizzy aspects, I'm thinking "Belgian Stout."

Yeah, they could easily sell this as a Belgian-style stout. Since we know this brewery loves the Belgian stuff (ie. Steelgarden, plus many various Belgian-styled offerings of their own), it's a wonder they're not selling it as such. Whatever the case, this is quite good, although not as balanced, complex, gooey or decadent as I'd hoped for. (1,594 characters)

A: Deep black with huge tan head due to the fact i poured vigoursly expecting low carbonation, incorrect

S: Mostly chocolate then some coffee on the back.

T: Roasted malts along with coffee and chocolate. I find no noticeable heat from the alcohol.

M: My first sips were pretty creamy but later sips, not so much. Medium with good amount of carbonation

D: I would say high drinkability on this one. I dont see myself having a problem polishing off this bomber by myself tonight.The alcohol is masked very well and i think this is a solid beer. (599 characters)

Big thanks goes out to the individual who shared this one with me (forgot who it was)! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured a massively dark brown (almost black) with a one finger mocha colored head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, subtle coffee, and subtle caramel. The flavor was of roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, bitter hops, and subtle citrus. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. As stated in previous reviews this one was a little hoppier than I was hoping for. Despite this fact the other flavors carried over quite well. This one was quite complex as well... Worth trying if it is around, but I wouldn't seek it out personally. (858 characters)

Poured from a 750 mL bottle (I think) into a snifter. Couldn't find a date on the bottle.

A: Poured a dark opaque black with a monster 3 finger tan/mocha head that sticks around a bit. Leaves really solid lacing as it descends back into the liquid.

S: Bittersweet chocolate is noticeable right away...there's some burnt caramel/brown sugar in there...some booziness. A good spicy floral hop presence. Dark fruits - plums and raisins. A licorice scent is detectible as well.

T: Tastes very much follow the nose on this. Dark fruits up front along with a confectionary sweetness. Bittersweet chocolate that teams up with a spicy hop bitterness to balance it out. At the end there is plenty of roastiness/charred coffee, some brown sugar along with a lingering licorice/anise taste. Alcohol isn't all that noticeable considering the 9% tag. Very impressive, complex tasting beer.

M: A medium to full bodied beer...if pressed, would have to call it medium. Very frothy, coats the mouth quite well. I have to say that I think it might be a tad overcarbed. I noticed that the cork was a little hard to remove (actually had to use a corkscrew cause it broke off)...I wonder if they had used a more gas permeable cork that maybe the carbonation wouldn't have been as high. So far this is my only complaint and it's a minor one.

O: Great example of an Impy Stout. Phenomenal aroma and taste...plenty of roasted coffee, sweet chocolate and a good amount of hop bitterness to balance it all out. I'd like to try an aged version of this to see if the carbonation mellows a bit. But definitely loving every sip of this one. (1,615 characters)